By KRWG News
Las Cruces – Fermin A. Rubio has announced that he will retire as City Attorney of Las Cruces and will accept a position with the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at Ft. Bliss, El Paso, TX.
Rubio's retirement will become effective February 28, 2010. He will retire after more than 25-years of public service, more than 12-years of which as city attorney.
Rubio, who is a lieutenant colonel in the New Mexico Air National Guard, said, "I have dedicated my life serving the public, not only in a legal capacity, but also as a member of the United States armed forces. I have a strong desire to continue utilizing my legal skills to help those in uniform, their families, and military retirees."
Prior to becoming city attorney, Rubio served as assistant general counsel for the New Mexico Worker's Compensation Administration in Albuquerque, NM; a military attorney in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and U.S. Naval Reserve; an active duty military attorney in the U.S. Navy; an associate attorney for a New Mexico law firm and an assistant city attorney in Roswell, NM.
Rubio received his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales and his Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He has also successfully completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command & Staff College, and Air War College. He is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster and Air Force Outstanding Unity Award with two oak leaf clusters.
"I am proud of many of the accomplishments I've achieved both in my military capacity and as city attorney for Las Cruces," Rubio said. "Among them, participation in: The successful conclusion of the El Paso Electric condemnation litigation in which Las Cruces recovered legal costs; the leasing of the city-county owned Memorial Medical Center to a private hospital management company; the extension of much travelled Lohman Avenue to Sonoma Ranch Boulevard; spearheading the collaborative effort between the city attorney and district attorney's office to have city DWI and domestic violence cases prosecuted in state district and/or magistrate court; the successful defense of the City of Las Cruces' use of three crosses in it's logo; and the development of the joint powers agreement between the City of Las Cruces and Dona Ana County to operate the Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley.
The City of Las Cruces will begin the selection process for a new city attorney within the coming weeks.